Covering for flower pot and floral grouping

ABSTRACT

A cover for use with a flower pot having a floral grouping disposed therein. The cover includes a sheet of material having a sheet extension connected to an outer peripheral surface thereof. The sheet of material is formed into a pot cover for covering the flower pot and the sheet extension extends over the floral grouping.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10/322,183,filed Dec. 16, 2002, now abandoned, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser.No. 10/147,799, filed May 14, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,499,253; whichis a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/933,384, filed Aug. 20, 2001, nowU.S. Pat. No. 6,418,662; which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No.09/767,518, filed Jan. 23, 2001, now abandoned; which is a continuationof U.S. Ser. No. 09/353,850, filed Jul. 15, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No.6,192,625; which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/971,206, filedNov. 14, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,956,898; which is a continuation ofSer. No. 08/526,335 filed Sep. 11, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,699,648;which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/183,010, filed Jan. 14,1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,479,758; which is a continuation of U.S. Ser.No. 08/001,001, filed Jan. 6, 1993, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,307,606. Each ofthe above applications is hereby incorporated by reference herein in itsentirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates generally to coverings for flowerpots and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a coveringfor a flower pot having a sheet extension for extending about a floralgrouping disposed in the flower pot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0003]FIG. 1 is a plan view of a sheet of material with a sheetextension connected thereto constructed in accordance with the presentinvention.

[0004]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a flower pot having a floralgrouping disposed therein.

[0005]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the sheet of material formed intoa pot cover with the sheet extension connected thereto.

[0006]FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the flower pot of FIG. 2disposed in the pot cover of FIG. 3 with the sheet extension formedabout the floral grouping.

[0007]FIG. 5 is plan view of a modified sheet of material with amodified sheet extension connected thereto.

[0008]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the sheet of material of FIG. 5formed into a pot cover and having the flower pot of FIG. 2 disposed inthe pot cover with the sheet extension formed about the floral grouping.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Referring to FIG. 1, as shown therein and designated by thegeneral reference numeral 10 is a sheet of material constructed inaccordance with the present invention. The sheet of material 10 shown inFIG. 1 has an upper surface 12, a lower surface 14 (FIG. 3), a first end16, a second end 18, a first side 20 and a second side 22. The ends 16and 18 cooperate with the sides 20 and 22 to define an outer perimeter24 of the sheet of material 10. The outer perimeter 24 of the sheet ofmaterial 10 is defined by perforations 26, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4.

[0010] As shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, a sheet extension 28 is connectedto the outer perimeter 24 of the sheet of material 10. As shown in FIGS.1 and 3, the sheet extension 28 extends a distance outwardly from theouter perimeter 24 of the sheet of material 10. The sheet extension 28has a first end 30, a second end 32, a first side 34 and a second side36. A portion of the sheet extension 28 extends a distance outwardlyfrom the first end 16 of the sheet of material 10 terminating with thefirst end 30 of the sheet extension 28. Another portion of the sheetextension 28 extends a distance outwardly from the second end 18 of thesheet of material 10 terminating with the second end 32 of the sheetextension 28. Yet another portion of the sheet extension 28 extends adistance outwardly from the first side 20 of the sheet of material 10terminating with the first side 34 of the sheet extension 28. Stillanother portion of the sheet extension 28 extends a distance outwardlyfrom the second side 22 of the sheet of material 10 terminating with thesecond side 36 of the sheet extension 28.

[0011] The sheet extension 28 cooperates with the sheet of material 10to define a generally square or rectangularly shaped sheet of materialwith the perforations 26 being disposed in a central portion of thesheet of material and defining the outer perimeter 24 of the sheet ofmaterial 10. Preferably, the sheet of material 10 and the sheetextension 28 are unitary and formed from a single sheet or plies ormultiple sheets one on top of the other which may or may not belaminated.

[0012] The sheet of material 10 and the sheet extension 28 areconstructed from any suitable flexible material that is capable of beingwrapped about a floral grouping and formed into a covering, as describedherein. Preferably, the sheet of material 10 and the sheet extension 28are constructed of a material selected from a group of materialsconsisting of paper, metal foil, cloth (natural or synthetic), includingdenim, and burlap or polymeric film or combinations thereof.

[0013] The term “polymeric film” as used herein means a synthetic or anatural polymeric film. For example, but not by way of limitation, onepolymeric film is a polypropylene film. Another example of a polymericfilm, but not by way of limitation, is cellophane.

[0014] The sheet of material 10 and the sheet extension 28 have athickness in a range from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mils. Preferably,the sheet of material 10 and the sheet extension 28 have a thickness ina range from about 0.1 mil to about 5 mils.

[0015] The sheet of material 10 and the sheet extension 28 may be anyshape and a rectangular shape is shown in FIG. 1 only by way of example.The sheet of material 10 and the sheet extension 28 for example only maybe square, rectangular, circular or any other geometric shape such asheart shaped for example only.

[0016] The sheet of material 10 and the sheet extension 28 may beconstructed of a single layer of material or a plurality of layers ofthe same or different types of materials. Any thickness of the sheet ofmaterial 10 and the sheet extension 28 may be utilized in accordancewith the present invention as long as the sheet of material 10 and thesheet extension 28 are wrappable about a floral grouping and formableinto a covering, as described herein. The layers of material comprisingthe sheet of material 10 and the sheet extension 28 may be connectedtogether or laminated or may be separate layers.

[0017] The covering of the present invention is particularly constructedto be used with a pot 38 (FIG. 2). The pot 38 has a top 40, a bottom 42with an opening through the top 40 forming a receiving space 44 withinthe pot 38. The pot 38 also has an outer peripheral surface 46. As shownin FIG. 2, the pot 38 is generally cylindrically shaped. However, thepot 38 may be any shape as may be desired in a particular application.

[0018] A floral grouping 48 is disposed at least partially within thereceiving space 44 of the pot 38, as shown in FIG. 2. The floralgrouping 48 has a stem end 50 and a bloom end 52. In one embodiment asshown in FIG. 2, material such as soil 54 is disposed in the receivingspace 44 and a portion of the stem end 50 extends into the soil 54. Thefloral grouping 48 extends a distance upwardly from the top 40 of thepot 38 terminating with the bloom end 52.

[0019] “Floral grouping” as used herein means cut fresh flowers,artificial flowers, a single flower, other fresh and/or artificialplants or other floral materials and may include other secondary plantsand/or ornamentation which add to the aesthetics of the overall floralgrouping.

[0020] A decorative pattern, such as a color and/or an embossed pattern,and/or other decorative surface ornamentation may be applied to theupper surface 12 and/or the lower surface 14 of the sheet of material 10or portions thereof including, but not limited to printed design,coatings, colors, flocking or metallic finishes. The sheet of material10 also may be totally or partially clear or tinted transparentmaterial. The sheet extension 28 is transparent, although a decorativepattern also may be applied to the sheet extension 28.

[0021] The sheet of material 10 with the sheet extension 28 connectedthereto is placed between a male and a female die or other formingsystem (not shown) and formed into a pot cover 56 (FIGS. 3 and 4). Asshown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the pot cover 56 has a top 58, a closed bottom60 and a cover opening 62 (FIG. 3) formed through the top 58 andextending through the top 58 a distance toward the bottom 60 of the potcover 56 providing a pot receiving space 64 (FIG. 3). The pot receivingspace 64 is shaped and adapted to receive the pot 38. The pot cover 56has a lower portion 65 and an upper sleeve portion 71 (FIG. 4).

[0022] The pot cover 56 has a plurality of overlapping folds 66 witheach of the overlapping folds 66 extending at various distances and atvarious angles over an outer peripheral surface 68 of the pot cover 56extending between the top 58 and the bottom 60. The overlapping folds 66extend at various angles and over various distance over the outerperipheral surface 68.

[0023] The lower portion 65 of the pot cover 56 includes a base portion67 and a skirt portion 70. The base portion 67 has an upper end 69 andis dimensioned to encompass at least a portion of the outer peripheralsurface 46 of the pot 38 when the pot 38 is disposed in the potreceiving space 64 of the pot cover 56 (FIGS. 3 and 4). The skirtportion 70 extends from the upper end 69 of the base portion 67 radiallyoutwardly with an outer perimeter 76 of the skirt portion 70 beingformed by the outer perimeter 24 of the sheet of material 10. Theperforations 26 extend along the outer perimeter 76 of the skirt portion70 formed by the outer perimeter 24 of the sheet of material 10.

[0024] The overlapping folds 66 may be connected or at least partiallyconnected. The connection of the overlapping folds 66 may beaccomplished by using heat sealing material and heat sealing theoverlapping folds 66 or by adhesively or cohesively connecting theoverlapping folds 66.

[0025] A pot cover constructed in the manner just described with respectto the pot cover 56 and a system for forming such a pot cover isdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,773,182, entitled, Article Forming System,issued to Weder, et al, Sep. 27, 1988, and the disclosure of this patentspecifically hereby is incorporated herein by reference.

[0026] The pot 38 is placed in the pot receiving space 64 and positionedin the pot cover 56 such that the bottom 42 of the pot 38 is disposedgenerally adjacent the bottom 60 of the pot cover 56. The base portion67 of the pot cover 56 substantially encompasses the entire outerperipheral surface 46 of the pot 38 including the bottom 42. The baseportion 67 of the pot cover 56 extends from the bottom 42 to the top 40of the pot 38. The skirt portion 70 extends radially outwardly from theupper end 69 of the base portion 67.

[0027] After the pot 38 has been placed in the pot cover 56, the sheetextension 28 forms the upper sleeve portion 71 (FIG. 4) which is formedabout the floral grouping 48 to a position wherein the upper sleeveportion 71 covers and encompasses a substantial portion of the floralgrouping 48 including the bloom end 52 of the floral grouping 48.

[0028] The upper sleeve portion 71 preferably includes a bondingmaterial 72 (FIG. 1) disposed on an upper surface 73 of the upper sleeveportion 71 and extending about an outer perimeter 76 of the upper sleeveportion 71. After the upper sleeve portion 71 has been formed about thefloral grouping 48, the outer perimeter 76 of the upper sleeve portion71 is bonded together to provide a closed end 74 of the upper sleeveportion 71 of the pot cover 56 (FIG. 4).

[0029] The base portion 67 and the skirt portion 70 of the lower portion65 together have an outer surface area 80 which is less than an outersurface area 82 of the upper sleeve portion 71 (FIG. 4).

[0030] The term “bonding material” as used herein means an adhesive,preferably a pressure sensitive adhesive, or a cohesive. Where thebonding material is a cohesive, a similar cohesive material must beplaced on the adjacent surface for bondingly contacting and bondinglyengaging with the cohesive material. The term “bonding material” alsoincludes materials which are heat sealable and, in this instance, theadjacent portions of the material must be brought into contact and thenheat must be applied to effect the seal. The term “bonding material” asused herein also means a heat sealing lacquer which may be applied tothe sheet of material and, in this instance, heat also must be appliedto effect the sealing. The term “bonding material” as used herein meansany type of material or thing which can be used to effect the bonding orconnecting of the two adjacent portions of the material or sheet ofmaterial to effect the connection or bonding described herein. The term“bonding material” also includes labels, bands, ribbons, strings, tape,staples or combinations thereof.

[0031] The sheet extension 28 remains in a position extending about thefloral grouping 48 until it is desired to remove the sheet extension 28.The sheet extension 28 is removed from the pot cover 56 by tearing alongthe perforations 26, thereby separating the sheet extension 28 from thepot cover 56. The sheet extension 28 then is removed from the floralgrouping 48 providing a decorative cover (not shown) for the pot 38.

[0032] In addition to the perforations 26, the upper sleeve portion 71also may include perforations extending between the perforations 26 andthe outer perimeter 76 of the upper sleeve portion 71 to further assistin the removal of the upper sleeve portion 71 when it is no longerdesired to keep the upper sleeve portion 71 extending about the floralgrouping 48.

[0033] Embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6

[0034] Shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is a sheet of material 10 a having a sheetextension 28 a connected thereto. The sheet of material 10 a and thesheet extension 28 a are constructed exactly like the sheet of material10 and the sheet extension 28 shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 and described indetail before, except the sheet of material 10 a is circularly shapedhaving a circularly shaped outer perimeter 24 a and the sheet extension28 a is circularly shaped having a circularly shaped outer perimeter 76a.

[0035] The sheet of material 10 a is formed into a pot cover 56 a havinga lower portion 65 a comprising a base portion 67 a (FIG. 6) in a mannerexactly like that described before with respect to the pot cover 56(FIGS. 3 and 4), except the lower portion 65 a of the pot cover 56 a hasa skirt portion 70 a with a circularly shaped appearance and acircularly shaped outer perimeter 76 a defined by the circularly shapedouter perimeter 24 a of the sheet of material 10 a. The sheet extension28 a forms an upper sleeve portion 71 a of the pot cover 56 a whichextends a distance outwardly from the skirt portion 70 a and also has acircularly shaped outer perimeter 76 a, as mentioned before.

[0036] The base portion 67 a and the skirt portion 70 a of the lowerportion 65 a together have an outer surface area 80 a which is less thanan outer surface area 82 a of the upper sleeve portion 71 a (FIG. 6).

[0037] The upper sleeve portion 71 a is formed about the floral grouping48 in a manner like that described before and secured via a bondingmaterial 72 a (not shown) to provide a closed end 74 a.

[0038] Changes may be made in the construction and the operation of thevarious components, elements and assemblies described herein and changesmay be made in the steps or the sequence of steps of the methodsdescribed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A plant package comprising a covering and a pothaving a floral grouping disposed therein, the pot having a top, abottom, a receiving space and an outer peripheral surface, and thefloral grouping having a stem end and a bloom end with the floralgrouping extending a distance upwardly from the top of the potterminating with the bloom end, the covering having a closed bottom, anouter surface and a pot receiving space into which the pot is disposed,and the covering comprising: a lower portion dimensioned to cover atleast a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the pot and having anouter surface area; an upper sleeve portion having an outer surface areaand extending a distance from the lower portion; and wherein the uppersleeve portion is detachable from the lower portion via a non-linearline of perforations disposed therebetween and wherein when the uppersleeve portion is detached from the lower portion by tearing along thenonlinear line of perforations, the lower portion is left with anonlinear outer perimeter and wherein the outer surface area of thelower portion is less than the outer surface area of the upper sleeveportion.
 2. The plant package of claim 1 wherein the upper sleeveportion of the covering further comprises bonding material disposed on aportion thereof and when formed about the floral grouping, portions ofthe upper sleeve portion can be connected via the bonding material toform a substantially closed end.
 3. The plant package of claim 1 whereinthe lower portion of the covering is tapered.
 4. The plant package ofclaim 1 wherein the upper sleeve portion of the covering is sized tosubstantially enclose the floral grouping contained by the pot.
 5. Aplant package comprising a covering and a pot having a floral groupingdisposed therein, the pot having a top, a bottom, a receiving space andan outer peripheral surface, and the floral grouping having a stem endand a bloom end with the floral grouping extending a distance upwardlyfrom the top of the pot terminating with the bloom end, the coveringhaving a closed bottom, an outer surface and a pot receiving spaceshaped and adapted to receive the pot, and the covering comprising: abase portion having an upper end and wherein the base portion isdimensioned to cover at least a portion of the outer peripheral surfaceof the pot; a skirt portion attached to the base portion and having anouter perimeter and extending beyond the upper end of the base portionand together the base portion and skirt portion having an outer surfacearea; and an upper sleeve portion having an outer surface area andextending a distance from the skirt portion; and wherein the uppersleeve portion is detachable from the skirt portion via a non-linearline of perforations disposed therebetween and wherein when the uppersleeve portion is detached from the skirt portion by tearing along thenon-linear line of perforations, the skirt portion is left with anonlinear outer perimeter and wherein the outer surface area of the baseportion and the skirt portion is less than the outer surface area of theupper sleeve portion.
 6. The plant package of claim 5 wherein the uppersleeve portion of the covering further comprises bonding materialdisposed on a portion thereof and when formed about the floral grouping,portions of the upper sleeve portion can be connected via the bondingmaterial to form a substantially closed end.
 7. The plant package ofclaim 5 wherein the base portion of the covering is tapered from theupper end of the base portion to the closed bottom.
 8. The plant packageof claim 5 wherein the upper sleeve portion of the covering is sized tosubstantially enclose a floral grouping contained by the pot.
 9. A plantpackage comprising a covering and a pot having a floral groupingdisposed therein, the covering having an outer surface and comprising: aflexible preformed base portion having an upper end and a closed bottomand the base portion having an outer surface area and a pot receivingspace shaped and sized to receive a pot, and wherein the base portion issized to cover a substantial portion of the outer peripheral surface ofthe pot; a skirt portion attached to the base portion and having anouter surface area and extending beyond the upper end of the baseportion; and an upper sleeve portion having an outer surface area andextending a distance therefrom and being sized to substantially surrounda floral grouping disposed within the pot when the pot is disposedwithin the pot receiving space; and wherein the upper portion isdetachable from the skirt portion via a non-linear line of perforationsdisposed therebetween and wherein when the upper portion is detachedfrom the skirt portion by tearing along the non-linear line ofperforations, the skirt portion is left with a non-linear upper edge andwherein the outer surface area of the base portion and the outer surfacearea of the skirt portion together comprise a surface area smaller thanthe outer surface area of the upper sleeve portion.
 10. The plantpackage of claim 9 wherein the upper sleeve portion of the coveringfurther comprises a bonding material disposed on a portion of the outerperimeter thereof such that when the upper sleeve portion is formedabout the floral grouping the outer perimeter of the upper sleeveportion can be connected via the bonding material to form asubstantially closed end of the upper sleeve portion.
 11. The plantpackage of claim 9 wherein the base portion is tapered from the upperend thereof to the closed bottom of the covering.
 12. The plant packageof claim 9 wherein the upper sleeve portion is sized to substantiallysurround the floral grouping contained by the pot.
 13. A plant packagecomprising a covering and a pot having a floral grouping disposedtherein, the covering having an outer surface area and comprising: aflexible preformed base portion having an upper end and a closed bottomand the base portion having an outer surface area and a pot receivingspace shaped sized to receive a pot, and wherein the base portion coversa substantial portion of the outer peripheral surface of the pot; askirt portion attached to the base portion and having an outer surfacearea and extending beyond the upper end of the base portion; and anupper sleeve portion having an outer surface area and extending from theskirt portion of the covering and extending a distance therefrom andbeing sized to substantially surround and enclose a floral groupingdisposed within the pot when the pot is disposed within the potreceiving space; and wherein the upper portion is detachable from theskirt portion via angularly arranged perforations disposed therebetweenand wherein when the upper portion is detached from the skirt portion bytearing along the angularly arranged perforations, the skirt portion isleft with a non-linear upper edge and wherein the outer surface area ofthe base portion and the outer surface area of the skirt portiontogether comprise a surface area smaller than the outer surface area ofthe upper sleeve portion.
 14. The plant package of claim 13 wherein theupper sleeve portion of the covering further comprises bonding materialdisposed on a portion thereof, the upper sleeve portion sized to enclosethe floral grouping and portions of the upper sleeve portion able to beconnected via the bonding material to form a substantially closed upperend of the covering.
 15. A plant package comprising a covering and a pothaving a floral grouping disposed therein, the covering having an outersurface area and comprising: a flexible preformed base portion having anupper end and a closed bottom and the base portion having an outersurface area and a pot receiving space shaped and sized to receive apot, and wherein the base portion covers a substantial portion of theouter peripheral surface of the pot; a skirt portion attached to thebase portion and having an outer surface area and extending beyond theupper end of the base portion; and an upper sleeve portion having anouter surface area and extending from the skirt portion of the coveringand extending a distance therefrom and being sized to substantiallysurround and enclose a floral grouping disposed within the pot when thepot is disposed within the pot receiving space; and wherein the upperportion is detachable from the skirt portion via a curved line ofperforations disposed therebetween and wherein when the upper portion isdetached from the skirt portion by tearing along the curved line ofperforations, the skirt portion is left with a curved upper edge andwherein the outer surface area of the base portion and the outer surfacearea of the skirt portion together comprise a surface area smaller thanthe outer surface area of the upper sleeve portion.
 16. The plantpackage of claim 15 wherein the upper sleeve portion of the coveringfurther comprises bonding material disposed on a portion thereof, theupper sleeve portion sized to enclose the floral grouping and portionsof the upper sleeve portion able to be connected via the bondingmaterial to form a substantially closed upper end of the covering.